[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 83 (Wednesday, May 25, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H3262]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HOUSE AMENDMENTS TO S. 2012

  (Mr. LaMALFA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LaMALFA. Madam Speaker, with the House amendments to S. 2012, 
California is moving in the direction of doing responsible management 
of California's water resources.
  Since this House has taken action, it is now up to California's 
Senators to no longer ignore the crisis facing our State.
  We have heard a lot about California's water woes. Some falsely claim 
this bill prioritizes one area over another. But, also, it includes 
instead the strongest possible protections for northern California's 
area of origin and senior water rights.
  It safeguards the most fundamental water right of all. Those who live 
where water originates will have access to it. Northern California 
water districts and farmers are strongly in support of this bill.
  This measure accelerates surface water storage infrastructure 
projects, such as Sites Reservoir, which this year would have saved 1 
million acre-feet of water had it been in place already. We can't 
expect 40 million people to survive on infrastructure designed 
generations ago.
  We have heard wild claims about how this measure could cause harm to 
the Endangered Species Act. But, in reality, it lives within the 
Endangered Species Act and biological opinions.
  Wildlife agencies currently base orders to cut off water to people on 
hunches, not data. This bill would provide actual facts to end the 
arbitrary decisions we have seen in recent years.
  Finally, it allows more water to be stored and used during winter 
storms, when river flows are highest and there is no impact to fish 
populations.
  The delta outflows surpassed record numbers this year. As a result, 
very little water actually got saved and much was wasted, which could 
be in the San Luis Reservoir.
  We have to change these policies and save the people's water for 
California with smarter management.

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